2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

This Hour Has 22 Minutes

Launched originally in 1993, This Hour Has 22 Minutes focuses on Canadian current events by combining news parody, sketch comedy and spoof editorials.

Destinées

Destinées revolves around the “Clinique Jouvence,” a health-youth-and-beauty spa that offers a wide variety of services ranging from massage therapy to cosmetic surgery.

Yamaska

The first season of Yamaska was dominated by bereavement, pain and loss of balance. Nearly all the main characters were experiencing major disruptions in their lives and having to swim in unfamiliar waters.

Audience Results

While funding results in this report illustrate activities in the 2011-2012 fiscal year, audience results reflect the most recently completed broadcast year, specifically, 2010-2011.

Overall Viewing of English-language programs in CMF-supported Genres

Among English-language programs in the CMF-supported genres, total hours as well as share of viewing to CMF-funded programs have grown over the past five years.  A number of fresh drama series which premiered during 2010-2011 as well as returning drama series posted solid performances while an extensive list of documentaries performed remarkably well, boosting the hours of viewing to CMF-funded programs.  As well, CMF-funded program hours scheduled have grown consistently over the past 5 years, likely traced to the introduction of new digital services, although this growth has outpaced the modest gain in hours scheduled for domestic programs in the 4 CMF-supported genres that did not receive CMF financing.     

Consolidation in the broadcast television industry in recent years has provided new opportunities for corporate ownership groups with an array of channels, that straddle the conventional, specialty and digital specialty arenas, to promote, exploit and exhibit broadcaster-financed content across these assets, making the content available to the largest number of Canadian viewers, regardless of their channel affinity, thereby further driving viewership to CMF-funded content.

In the Children’s & Youth genre, the share of full-day viewing to CMF-funded programs dropped by one share point, to 30%.  Viewing to non-CMF Canadian programs, however, grew by two share points, to 8%.  In peak viewing hours, viewing to CMF-funded programs slipped by two share points, to 42%, while viewing to foreign programs grew by two share points, to 56%.   

In the Documentary genre, the share of full-day viewing to CMF-funded programs dropped by one share point, to 12%, while viewing to foreign programs grew by one share point, to 59%.  In peak-viewing hours, there was no change in share from the previous year; viewing to CMF-funded programs was stable at 11%, while viewing to foreign programs remained stable at 65%. 

In the VAPA genre, the share of full-day viewing to CMF-funded programs rose by one share point, to 19%, while viewing to foreign programs decreased by one share point to 72%.  During peak-viewing hours, however, viewing to CMF-funded programs slipped by two share points, to 10%, while viewing to both non-CMF Canadian and foreign programs rose by one share point each, to 9% and 81%, respectively. 

In the Drama genre, the share of full-day viewing to CMF-funded programs increased by one point to 6%, while viewing to non-funded Canadian dramas declined by two share points, to 10%.  In peak-viewing hours, the trend was similar, with viewing to CMF-funded programs rising by one share point, and non-funded Canadian dramas declining by one share point.  This suggests that the observed growth in CMF-funded dramas came at the expense of non-CMF funded Canadian drama projects.

CMF-funded vs Other Canadian vs Foreign Programs by Genre
Full Day – English

 

CMF-funded vs Other Canadian vs Foreign Programs by Genre
Peak-Viewing – English

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Top Performing CMF-funded English-Language Programs

The following is a list of the top 20 English-language programs funded by the CMF which aired during the 2010-2011 broadcast year.  A more detailed analysis of audiences by program title can be found in the Canada Media Fund Audience Report available on the CMF web site.

Ten CMF-funded programs which aired in the 2010-2011 broadcast year achieved audiences of over 1 million viewers on average.  This is the same number of programs that attained this level last year and well above the results from 2008-2009 and 2007-2008 during which only three and two titles, respectively, attracted one million viewers or higher.

Thirteen of the top twenty programs were dramas, achieving audiences that ranged from just under 1.8 million to 773,000.  There were two variety and performing arts programs that achieved audiences of close to 1.1 million and 984,000 viewers, while five documentaries attained audiences of between 1.5 million and 686,000 viewers. 

The top performing CMF-funded series, Combat Hospital, garnered over 1.7 million viewers.  By way of comparison, the top performing foreign series in a CMF-supported genre, The Big Bang Theory, attracted an average audience of almost 3.1 million viewers, while five other series (Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds, Glee, $#*! My Dad Says and The Mentalist) delivered over two million viewers on average.

Broadcaster Program Title Duration Genre Funded Year Episodes Funded Episodes Aired Average Minute Audience
Global Combat Hospital l  60 Drama 2011-2012 13 10 1,767,600
CBC Battle of the Blades: Game ON 60 Documentary 2010-2011 1 1 1,528,600
CTV  Flashpoint IV  60 Drama 2010-2011 18 7 1,513,700
CTV  Flashpoint III  60 Drama 2009-2010 13 29 1,497,800
CBC Heartland Christmas (A) 120 Drama 2009-2010 1 2 1,372,100
Global Rookie Blue ll  60 Drama 2010-2011 13 14 1,307,100
CBC Rick Mercer Report (The) VIII 30 Drama 2010-2011 19 64 1,196,700
CBC Air Farce New Year's Eve 2010 60 Variety & Performing Arts 2010-2011 1 2 1,097,800
Global Rookie Blue I 60 Drama 2008-2009 13 5 1,071,400
CTV  Listener (The) II 60 Drama 2010-2011 13 32 1,005,300
CBC Republic of Doyle II 60 Drama 2010-2011 13 22 999,600
CBC Heartland IV  60 Drama 2009-2010 18 32 989,300
CBC Season of Song: The Canadian Tenors and Friends 60 Variety & Performing Arts 2010-2011 1 2 984,100
CBC Tudors (The) IV  60 Drama 2009-2010 10 20 816,400
CBC InSecurity (Pilot) 30 Drama 2009-2010 1 2 811,200
CBC This Hour Has 22 Minutes XVIII  30 Drama 2010-2011 13 18 772,500
CBC Corrie Crazy:  Canada Loves Coronation Street 60 Documentary 2010-2011 1 2 755,000
CBC When North Goes South 60 Documentary 2009-2010 1 1 751,500
CBC Gangster Next Door (The) 60 Documentary 2009-2010 1 2 701,500
Discovery Last Days of the Dinosaurs 60 Documentary 2009-2010 1 18 686,400

 

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Overall Viewing of French-language programs in CMF-supported Genres

Among French-language programs in the CMF-supported genres, the share of viewing to CMF-funded programs is at its highest levels in five years, in both full day and peak viewing hours. There is, however, a discernible continuing trend of increased viewing to versioned foreign programming over the past five years. test

In the Children’s & Youth genre, the share of full-day viewing to CMF-funded programs increased by one share point, to 50%, while in peak viewing hours, the viewing share of CMF-funded programs remained stable at its five-year high of 75%.   

In the VAPA genre, full-day viewing to CMF-funded programs dropped slightly from last year’s record high, to 68%. In peak viewing hours, however, viewing to CMF-funded programs increased by four share points, to a five-year record high of 78%.

In the Drama genre, full-day viewing to CMF-funded programs grew by four share points, to a five-year high of 19%.  However, viewing to foreign programs also rose to a five-year high of 65%.  In peak viewing hours, viewing to CMF-funded programs increased by eight share points, to 34%, while viewing to foreign programs increased by four share points, to 52%. These figures suggest that the share of Canadian-produced dramas during peak-viewing hours continues to erode, with viewing shifting towards versioned foreign produced dramas. 

In the Documentary genre, the majority of both full-day and peak-viewing continues to favour Canadian programs that were not CMF-funded.  Full-day viewing to CMF-funded programs increased by only one share point, to 9%, the second-lowest level in the past five years, while viewing to foreign programs decreased by one share point, to 20%.  In peak-viewing hours, viewing to CMF-funded programs increased by two share points, to 13% (still the second-lowest level in the past five years), while viewing to foreign programs decreased by two share points, to 24%.

CMF-funded vs Other Canadian vs Foreign Programs by Genre
Full Day - French

 

CMF-funded vs Other Canadian vs Foreign Programs by Genre
Peak Viewing - French

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Top Performing CMF-funded French-Language Programs

The following is a list of the top 20 French-language programs funded by the CMF which aired during the 2010-2011 broadcast year.  A more detailed analysis of audiences by program title can be found in the Canada Media Fund Audience Report available on the CMF web site.

Fifteen CMF projects which aired in 2010-2011 achieved audiences of over 1 million viewers on average.  This is down slightly from last year when seventeen projects posted audiences of over 1 million, although still better than 2008-2009 and 2007-2008, during which only eight and ten titles, respectively, attracted one  million viewers or higher.

Fifteen of the top 20 programs were dramas, achieving audiences ranging from over 1.4 million viewers to 960,000 viewers, five were variety and performing arts programs, achieving audiences that ranged from over 1.2 million to just over 1 million viewers, and one was a documentary, attracting close to 1.6 million viewers.  There were no programs from the documentary or children’s and youth genres made the overall top 20 programs list. The top-ranked program in documentary achieved an average audience of just over 900,000 viewers, while the top-performing program in children’s & youth posted an average audience of 173,000.

The top performing CMF-funded series, 19-2, garnered over 1.4 million viewers.  By way of comparison, the top performing foreign series in a CMF-supported genre, Dr. House, attained on average 773,000 viewers, while three other foreign series (Esprits Criminels, Le Grand C and Les Beautés Désespérées) posted over 500,000 viewers on average.

Broadcaster Program Title Duration Genre Funded Year Episodes Funded Episodes Aired Average Minute Audience
Radio-Canada 19-2 60 Drama 2010-2011 10 10 1,416,000
TVA Yamaska II  60 Drama 2010-2011 22 22 1,322,400
Radio-Canada Parent (Les) 30 Drama 2010-2011 20 20 1,295,300
TVA Messmer: drôlement mystérieux  60 Variety and Performance Arts 2010-2011 2 2 1,247,000
TVA Fidèles au poste! I  60 Variety and Performance Arts 2010-2011 22 26 1,208,500
TVA LOL :-) I  30 Drama 2010-2011 14 12 1,131,700
TVA Dieu Merci V  60 Variety and Performance Arts 2010-2011 17 10 1,113,000
TVA Promesse (La) VI 60 Drama 2010-2011 26 26 1,103,600
TVA Parlementeries 2009 (Les) 60 Variety and Performance Arts 2009-2010 2 2 1,101,400
Radio-Canada Trauma II  60 Drama 2010-2011 10 10 1,094,600
Radio-Canada Providence VII  60 Drama 2010-2011 22 11 1,065,600
TVA Destinées IV  60 Drama 2009-2010 26 26 1,046,600
Radio-Canada Providence VI   60 Drama 2009-2010 22 12 1,022,500
TVA Tranches de vie I  30 Drama 2008-2009 9 19 1,019,500
Radio-Canada Comme par magie: spéciale artistes  60 Variety and Performance Arts 2010-2011 2 4 1,004,500
Radio-Canada Auberge du chien noir (L') 60 Drama 2010-2011 26 26 989,800
TVA Tranches de vie II  30 Drama 2009-2010 18 9 983,000
Radio-Canada Petite Vie - Spécial Noël (La) 90 Drama 2009-2010 1 1 967,400
Radio-Canada Boys IV  (Les) 30 Drama 2010-2011 13 13 965,000
Radio-Canada Galère (La) 60 Drama 2010-2011 10 10 959,800
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